Cue-tip machine.



w. o. MARTIN. GUE TIP MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1908. 1,053,193, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.|

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. G. MARTIN. GUE TIP MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2a, 1908.

1,053,193. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l AN APH CO.,WAS TON D C W. C. MARTIN.

CUE TIP MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED M1123, 1908. 1,053, 1 93. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

A SHEETS-SHEET a.

mana/f EDLUMBIA pLANouRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

W. C. MARTIN.

GUE TIP MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY 2s, 190e.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MNE if" Pl co.. WASHINGTON u W. C. MARTIN. GUE TIP MACHINE. AIPLIGATION FILED MAY 28, 1908.

' 1,053, 1 93. Patented Feb. 18, 1.913.

y 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5. (7' I @J4 WELCOME C.` MARTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CUE-TIP MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed May 28, 1908. Serial No. 435,568.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WELCOME C. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cue-Tip Machines, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cue tip machines and more particularly to a machine adapted to automatically feed the blanks to the cutting mechanism and to cut the tips from said blanks without necessitating manual labor during t-he operation.

In the manufacture of cue tips it has heretofore been necessary to perform a great deal of the labor by hand for the reason that no machine had been provided capable of automatically feeding the blanks thereinto and automatically cutting the tips from the blanks and discharging them from the machine in a finished state without requiring manual labor during some part of the operation. Furthermore it has heretofore been difficult in cutting the tips to prevent'the fibers from shredding at the end of the cut and thereby leaving a ragged edge which must afterward be dressed off.

The object of this invention is to providev a cue tip machine in which the blanks are automatically fed to the cut-ting mechanism by which they are turned into the proper shape and completely finished at one operation without necessitating any handling or manual labor.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a yielding and self-adjusting mechanism adapted to feed the blanks to the main chuck so as to adjust itself to varying thicknesses of blanks without injury to any of the parts and also adapted to insure that the blanks are firmly attached to the spindle. j

A still further object of the invention is to provide means adapted to cut the blanks without leaving a ragged edge at the end of the cnt and for this purpose the blankis cut from both the front andre'ar sides simultaneously with a draw cut and the out is finished at a point between the front and rear sides of the blank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of being quickly and easily adjusted to cut tips of various sizes and for various thicknesses of leather.

The invention consists of the matters hereinafter described in the specification and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

.In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention and showing the relative positions of the parts after the completion of the tip and after the tip is discharged from the cutting mechanism. Fig. 2 is an en d elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 -3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a 'section taken on line 5-5 of Fig 1. Fig. 6 is a section, partly in elevation, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4 and with parts removed. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the feed plunger shown in Fig. 6, and showing the rotatable spindle thereof in elevation. Fig. 8 is an enlarged, longitudinal section of the mandrel. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the knife. Fig. 10 is aside elevation of the knife and partly turned blank. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the lmife bracket. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of one of the blanks. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the completed cue tips. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, front elevation of themachine. Fig. 15 is an enlarged horizontal section taken in a plane indicated by the line 15-15 of Fig. 16, said plane including the longitudinal axis of the feed plunger. Fig. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary section taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 15.`

kAs shown in said drawings: A indicates a lframe of any preferred construct-ion, but

which, as shown, is provided with end members a. and al and a front member a2, having a longitudinal plate or beam as on the top thereof and which, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, is slotted longitudinally.

Rigidly engagedon the front of theframe and near one end thereof is a head stock B in which is ournaled a tubular mandrel B1, which'projects from both sides of said stock and is both internally and externally screw threaded lat its inner end. Removably engaged in the threaded end of said mandrel is the tubular chuck b, having brads bl'thereon adapted to hold the blanks in position to be operated upon. On the inner end of said mandrel is the set nut b2 adapted to take the` longitudinal thrust thereon in one direction and a belt pulley b3 is rigidly engaged on the. mandrel and adapted to take the thrust 110 in the opposite direction and be driven by a belt b4 leading from vany suitable source of power.

Projecting from the front of the machine and rigidly supported thereon in any preferred manner, but as shown on the front of the beam a3, is a bearing head C, having a bore therethrough in axial alinement with the mandrel B, and' at the end of the frame opposite from the head stock is a bearing arm C1 having a bearing therein in alinement with the bearing in said head C. Slidably engaged in said head C and said arm C1 is the feed plunger C2, which may be of any preferred construct-ion but which, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, is tubular and is provided with a threaded portion o on which is adjustably engaged a nut c1 adapted to abut against the bearing head C and limit the inward travel of said plunger to prevent its being thrown against the chuck Z); In the inner end of said plunger is rigidly engaged a bearing sleeve 02 in which is journaled a chuck spindle@3 having on its outer end a chuck c4 which, when the plunger is at the outer limit of its movement, is flush with the face of the bearing C, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

Rigidly engaged on the front of the frame intermediate the head stock B and the bearing head C, and adjacent the latter, is a block C3 or other supporting means through which extends a. retarding tube c5 in axial alinernent with the feed plunger C2 and mandrel B1, and through which the plunger is adapted to travel. The bore of said tube 05- is of such size that the blanks lit closely therein so that when the blanks are forced therethrough by the feed plunger they become firmly attached to the head c4. Said block C3, as shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, is cut away or recessed on its face adjacent the bearing C down to a point approximately level with the bottom of the tube c5, and-rearwardly to the back o-f said tube, and hinged thereon by means of a hinge c, and adapted to fold down into the space thus formed, is a bar c7, the bottom of which is approximately flush with the top of said tube. The rear end of said bar c7 is adapted to abut against the beam a3 when in its closed position and is normally held in such position by a spring 0S secured on the beam, or by any other preferred means. vSaid recess beneath said bar provides a guide groove o9 terminating in the tube c5, one side of which is cut away for that purpose as shown more clearly in Fig. 7, and the top and bottom of the groove are provided with longitudinal ridges 010, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, adapted to guide said blanks into said tube.

Supported in any preferred manner in front of the machine is the gravity feed tube D adapted to contain the blanks D1 tobe l operated upon, and the outlet end of which abuts against the block C3 adjacent the groove o9 and adapted to feed thereinto, as shown more clearly in Figs. l and 5. Said feed tube has a longitudinal slot in one side thereof through which projects a follower CZ adapted to engage behind the blanks and force them forwardly, and a weighted cord Z1 is attached to said follower and passes over a pulley @Z2 at the discharge end of said tube and operates said follower.

Any preferred means may be provided for delivering the blanks D1 from the feed tube D to the retarding tube c5 into position for the feed plunger to feed them to the chuck b, but, as shown, the block C3 is provided with a groove cu in the side thereof below the groove c, and slidably engaged therein is the delivery bar E which projects rearwardly beyond the beam a3 and forwardly through the front of said block, and is provided with a delivery hook c on its forward end which projects into said groove c, and when at the outer or forward limit of its movement, as shown in Fig. 5, is outwardly beyond the feed tube, in position to carry the blank rearwardly in the groove c to the tube c5. Said bar may be secured in the block in any preferred manner, but, as shown in Fig. 6, a plate c1 is engaged on the side of the block and overlaps said bar. Any preferred means may be provided for operating said feed plunger and delivery bar E, but, as shown, a shaft F is journaled in suitable bearings f in the end members of the frame A and is provided on one end thereof with a belt pulley f1 by means of which it is driven. Rigidly engaged on said shaft adjacent the end member a is a cam wheel F1, having on its periphery, near its end opposite from said frame member, a cam f2, which extends rearwardly and laterally toward the frame member a for a distance and then turns rearwardly for a short distance, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1.

Beginning at a point on the wheel F1 located slightly to the rear of the cam f2 and laterally thereof toward the end member a, is a cam f3, which extends rearwardly and laterall.7 behind t-he cam f2.

lilXtending rearwardly from the bottom portion of the beam a3 and integral therewith is a shelf f4, and pivoted thereon by means of a pin f5 is a bell-crank lever F2, one arm f6 of which is pivot-ally connected with the rear end of the bar E, and the other arm f7 extends rearwardly over the cam wheel F1 and is provided with a roller f8 adapted to travel on the cams f2 and f3, the former of which acts to move the delivery bar rearwardly and the latter of which acts to move said bar back to normal position.

Slidably engaged on the feed plunger C2 is a collar f9 having trunnions f1 thereon, and is limited in its movement in one direction by a nut f on said plunger.' On the opposite side of said collar and at a distance therefrom is a nut fm on said plunger, and between said nut and collar and engaging the same is a spring fla acting as a buffer for said collar. A lever F3 is pivoted on the shelf f1 by means of a pin f and the forward end thereof is forked to provide arms )15 which extend above and below the collar fg and are slotted to receive the trunnions flo. Said lever extends rearwardly over the cam wheel F1 and is provided on its rear end with a roller fle adapted to engage a cam f1? on said wheel which begins about the same point as the cam f3 and extends rearwardly and oppositely therefrom. Said cam f1? is adjust-ably engaged to the wheel F1 so as to adjust the throw of the lever F3 to accommodate the feed plunger to varying thicknesses of blanks, and for this purpose the cam base is slotted to receive the attaching bolts fis and a set screw fw is carried in a bracket, fm on the wheel F1 and engages the rear side of said cam. In adjusting the cam the bolts fm are loosened and the cam turned yto the proper angle and the set screw set up against it to form an abutment. Thebolts fls are then tightened to hold the cam rigidly in place.

Rigidly engaged on the cam wheel F1 at the rear of the cam fu is a cam fn which commences at a point laterally of the rear end of the cam f and extends rearwardly and laterally in the opposite direction beneath the same. As shown more clearly in Fig. l, the feed shaft is at the rearward limit of its movement, out of the path of the delivery hook e, and said hook is at the outer limit of its movement in position to receive a blank from the feed tube D. As the cam' wheel F1 revolves, the cama]e2 first engages the roller f8 and causes the lever F2 to move the delivery bar rearwardly and force a blank into the tube c5. When the cam f2 has passed beyond the roller f8, the cam f3 engages said roller and throws the lever F2 oppositely, thereby returning the delivery bar to normal position. At the same time the cam f17 engages the roller f1 and operates the lever F3, causing it to force the feed shaft C2 forwardly against the blank in said tube. Owing to the fact that the blank fits closely in the tube c5 the pressure of the feed shaft thereagainst in forcing it through the tube causes the chuck c4 to rmly engage said blank and carry it forwardly `to the chuck Z). The buer spring fls on said shaft permits the shaft to yield when the blank strikes the chuck b, so that varying thicknesses of blanks will not cause undue strain on the parts. As soon as the roller fle has passed from the cam f1? it is engaged by the cam f which acts to throw the lever Fa in the opposite direction and return the feed shaft to normal position, leaving the blank 'on the chuck'b in position'to be operated` on by the cutting mechanism.

Rigidly engaged on the front of the beam n3, intermediate the head stock B and the shown more clearly in Fig. 9, is curved on the front face g2 to conform to the curvature of the front face of the completed tip D2 shown in Fig. l1, and the upper portion of which is approximately right angular on its rear face. The flange or side g3 of said knife is so situated that it will pass downwardly in front of the chuck Z9, and the flange g4i thereof will pass downwardly at the side of the chuck, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8. Said knife is provided on its lower end with a point g5 located on the flange g3 and curves upwardly therefrom in either direction, providing tlie cutting edge gs which terminates in a notch 97 in the flange gt. The other side of said notch is formed by a cutting edge gs which extends downwardly and laterally toward the edge of the flange g4. Said knife may be secured to the bracket g in any preferred manner, but, as shown, it is provided on its back with a screw threaded stud g adapted to be inserted through a slot g in said bracket and secured therein by means of a nut (/16, shown in Fig; l. On the back of said bracket is bolted an adjustable abutment g1T which is provided with elongated ,ing rearwardly therefrom, and one end of said lever is slotted and pivoted between ears glo o-n said knife bar. The other end of saidlever extends downwardly and rearwardly over the shaft F and is provided with a roller g journaled on on-e side thereo-f in position to be engaged by a cam G* which is rigidly engaged on the shaft F. Said cam, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, is provided with apoint or projection Q12 which is so positioned that, after the feed plunger C2 has beenv retracted, it will engage said roller gu and force the rear end of the knife lever upwardly, thereby forcing the knife downwardly, and will pass beyond sai-d roller before the feed plunger is again operated. Said cam has its shortest radius at the base g1g of the rear side of said projection and the radii gradually increase in length therefrom to the point of said projection, with the effect that the 5 knife is gradually forced downwardly during the cut and raised quickly after the cut. yAny preferred means may be employed for normally holding the knife bar in elevated position but, as shown, a spring 913 is engaged at one end to the rear end of the knife lever and at the other en-d to the bottom of the frame A and acts to normally force the rear end of said lever downwardly.

The shavings from the cut fall beneath the knife, and for the purpose of receiving the completed tips from the mandrel a bar H is slidably engaged at its fo-rward end in the front frame member a2 beneath the block C2 and at its rear end s slidably engaged in a post 71,1 extending upwardly from the bo-ttom of the frame at the rear of the shaft F. The forward end of said bar H is turned laterally toward the head stock B to provide an arm 7a2 and on said arm is rigidly engaged a discharge tube H1, which, as shown, is' inclined downwardly and outwardlytfrom the frame and when at the4 inner limit of its mo-vement its rear end h3 is positioned beneath the knife and in front of the chuck Z) in position to receive the tip therefrom. Said rear end 7a3, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and l, is cut away on the side adjacent the chuck so that the tip may drop thereinto as it is forced off from the chuck.

Any preferred means may be provided for operating the bar H but, as shown, a cam wheel H2 is rigidly engaged on the shafty F adjacent said bar and is adapted to engage a roller l# on said bar and cause the bar to move outwardly and carry the tube H1 from beneath the knife. Said cam wheel H2 is circular for the greater part of its circumference but is provided with one straight side 71,5. so that when the circular portion thereof is in engagement with the roller 7L* the bar is held at the outer limit of its movement, in which position it remains while the knife is operating. When, however, the straight side 71,5 comes in contact with the roller the bar may be retracted to bring the discharge tube to receiving position adjacent the chuck b. For this purpose a coiled spring LG is engaged 'at one end to a lug 7L on said post and at its other end to the bar in front of the post i and acts normally to hol-d the bar retracted. For the purpose of ej ecting the completed tipfrom the chuck into the discharge tube H1 a thrust rod I is slidably engaged in the mandrel B1 and is provided on its outer end with a head between which and the end of the mandrel is engaged a coiled spring 1 which acts to normally hold the rod at the -outer limit of'its movement. A lever I1 is pivoted on an arm 2, carried on the end frame member al and extends rearwardly and laterally to a point above the shaft F. A cam wheel I2is rigidly engaged on said shaft adjacent the rear end of the lever and is :provided with a cam teat or projection i3 thereon adapted to engage the rear end of the lever and force it outwardly, thereby forcing the front end of the lever against said thrust rod and causing the latter to force the tip from the chuck 7). Said cam teat is so positioned on the wheel I2 that it operates the thrust rod as soon as the discharge tube H1 has reached its receiving p0- sition and permits said rod to be, immediately retracted by its spring as soon as it has ejected the tip into said tube.

The operation is as follows: A feed tube D filled with blanks is supported adjacent the machine in any preferred manner with its discharge end opening into the groove 09 and the weight forces a blank into said groove behind the delivery hook e. As the cam wheel F1 rotates, the cam f2 engages the lever F2 and moves said hook rearwardly, thereby forcing the blank into the tube c5. The ridges 010 on the top and bottom of said groove act to guide the blank into said tube so that it will lie in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tube. As soon as the blank enters the tube c5 the cam f3 engages said lever and returns the delivery hook to normal position, and as the hook passes from in front of the feed tube another blank is forced into said groove. The cam f then engages the lever F3 and forces the feed plunger longitudinally, and as said plunger forces the blank through the retarding tube 5 the blank is firmly attached to the chuck at and is carried by said chuck and de posited 'on the chuck b. The latter chuck is continuously rotated, and inasmuch as the spindle c2 of the chuck c4 is journaled in the feed plunger it is able to take the motion of the chuck while the blank is being deposited thereon. The yielding connection between the lever F3-and the feed plunger `enables the plunger to yield in case a blank of greater thickness than that for which the machine is set should be fed into the machine. As soon as the blank has been deposited on the chuck b the cam f21 engages the lever F3 and retracts the feed plunger to normal position. The knife is normally held in 'elevated position by the spring 913 and as soon as the blank has been deposited on the chuck the cam G4 acting on the lever Gr3 begins to lower the knife. The point g5 of the knife, which stands parallel to the front of the blank, first engages the blank and as the knife descends the curved edge g cuts the blank to the proper curvature. As the cut lnears the rear of the blank the edge g8 commences a cut from the Gr3 is forced downwardly by its spring andy the knife is quickly raised. The delivery tube H1 is normally held extended from bef neath the knife by means of the circularV surface of the cam H2 engaging the roller' h4. As soon, however, as the knife has been retracted after the cut the straight surface h5 of said cam is brought adjacent the roller h4 and the spring h6 acting on the bar II causes the latter to move rearwardly and bring the discharge tube to receiving posi` tion beneath the knife. The cam i3 then engages the lever I1 which moves the thrust rod I through the mandrel and forces the completed tip from the chuck into said discharge tube which guides the tip into any receptacle which may be placed beneath the same. The cam H2 then returns the discharge tube to normal position and the operation is repeated.

Obviously a machine embodying my invention is capable of forming the tips with great rapidity and accuracy and with the entire elimination of manual labor. Obviously also many details of form and construction may be varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a supporting frame, a horizontally arranged chuck rotatively mounted in said frame, a feed tube mounted in said frame and in axial alinement with said chuck, a horizontally arranged blank containing tube parallel with said feed tube and having its discharge end adjacent the inlet end of said feed tube, a feed plunger in said blank containing tube, yielding pressure means acting on said plunger to advance the same in said tube, a transverse guideway for the blanks connecting the discharge and inlet ends of said blank containing tube and the feed tube, a reciprocating member adapted to move the blanks through said guideway, cam actuated means for giving movement to said reciprocating member, a horizontally arranged reciprocating plunger in axial alinement with said feed tube, adapted to pass through the same and carry the blanks to the chuck, cam actuated means for operating said plunger, a transversely arranged reciprocating knife, cam actuated means adapted to forcesaid knife against the blank on the chuck after the plunger has been retracted, and cam actuated means for ejecting said blank after the same has been operated upon by said knife.

2. The combination with a chuck of means providing a retarding passage in axial alinement therewith, blank containing means, reciprocating feed mechanism adapted to carry blanks from said containing means to said passage, a plunger, means for moving said plunger through the passage and carrying a blank to the chuck and retracting the plunger as soon as theblank is placed on the chuck, and cutting means adapted to operate on the blank when the plunger is retracted.

3. The combination with a chuck, of a retarding tube in axial alinement with said chuck and spaced a distance therefrom, a passage extending transversely of said tube and opening into the end of the tube opposite from the chuck, blank containing means opening into said passage, a reciprocating feed hook in said passage and adapted to carry blanks from the containing means to said tube, and a reciprocating plunger adapted to travel through said tube and carry the blanks to the chuck.

4. The combination with a frame, of a chuck thereon, a reciprocating plunger mounted on the frame in axial alinement with the chuck, blank retarding means interposed between said plunger and chuck, blank containing means supported adjacent said retarding means, a guide passage leading from said containing means to said retarding means, means adapted to carry blanks `through said passage and deliver them to the retarding means in position for the plunger to carry them to the chuck,

meansfor retracting the plunger when the blanks have been placed on the chuck, cutting mechanism adapted to operate on the blanks after the plunger is retracted, and means adapted to receive the completed blanks from the chuck.

5. In a device of the class described the combination with a frame of a rotative chuck thereon, a feed plunger slidably mounted on said frame in axial alinement with said chuck, reciprocating means adapted to automatically deliver a blank to said plunger, means adapted to operate the plunger and carry the blank to said chuck, a reciprocating knife mounted on said frame and adapted to pass downwardly infront of the blank after the plunger has been retracted, means for operating said knife, and means for delivering the completed blank from said chuck.

6. In a device of the class described the combination with a frame of a rotative chuck thereon, a retarding tube mounted on said frame in axial alinement with said chuck, a reciprocating feed plunger on said frame adapted to pass through said tube, means for automatically delivering blanks to said tube, means for operating the plunger and vforcingthe blanks through the tube ontoy said chuck, a knife adapted to cut the blanks on said chuck, means for operating said knife and means adapted to move beneath the chuck and receive the completed blanks therefrom.

'7. The combination With a frame of a chuck journaled thereon, a retarding tube in axial alinement with said chuck, a feed plunger slidably mounted on the frame and adapted to travel through said tube, adjustable means on said plunger adapted to limit its movement toward the chuck, means for operating said plunger, a guide groove leading into said tube, and means for forcing blanks through said groove to the tube.

` 8. The combination with a frame, of a chuck thereon, a retarding tube in axial alinement With said chuck, a feed plunger slidably mounted on the frame and adapted to travel through the tube to and from the chuck, a. guidevvay leading into said tube, a -feedtube opening into said guideway, feed mechanism in said tube adapted to deliver Y blanks to said guideway, a reciprocating and rear margins,

member in said guideway adapted to move blanks along the gudeway to said retarding tube, means for operating said plunger and member, and cutting mechanism adjacent said chuck.

9. The combination With a frame of a chuck thereon, means adapted to feed blanks to said chuck, a reciprocating knife mounted on the frame and adapted to pass downwardly past the end ofthe chuck and to cut the blank simultaneously from its front and means for operating said knife.

10. In a device of the class describedthe combination With a frame of a rotative chuck thereon, cutting means adjacent said chuck, a retarding tube in axial alinement with said chuck, means for automatically delivering blanks thereto, and means adapted to pass through said tube and feed blanks to said chuck.

1l. In a device of the class described the combination With a frame of a main rotatable chuck thereon, cutting mechanism adjacent said chuck, a retarding tube in axial alinement with said chuck, means adapted to deliver blanks to said. tube, a feed plunger, a rotatable chuck thereon and means adapted to force the feed plunger through said tube and carry the blanks to the main chuck.

12. The combination with a frame of a chuck supported thereon, a retarding tube in axial alinement with said chuck, a feed tube removably supported on the frame and out of alinementwith the retarding tube, feed mechanism adapted to transfer blanks from the feed tube to the retarding tube, and a plunger adapted to carry the blanks through the retarding tube to the chuck.

13. The combination with a frame of a chuck journaled thereon, a retarding tube in axial alinement With said chuck, a feed tube removably mounted on the frame, a guideway leading from the outlet end of the feed tube to the inlet end of the retarding tube, reciprocating feed mechanism in said guideway, means adapted to automatically move blanks from the feed tube to the guide- Way, and a reciprocating plunger adapted to carry the blanks through the retarding tube to the chuck.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

WnLooME o. MARTIN.

Witnesses y W. IV. VVITHERBURY, EUGENE Bivnn'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

